To commemorate Caritas Australia’s 60th anniversary, we recently ran a competition inviting supporters to vote for their favourite photo. 

The 60 photos featured in our virtual gallery showcased the impact of programs supported by generous people like you, from cultural arts programs in Australia to water projects in Zimbabwe.   

We are excited to announce the photo with the most votes was Thandolwayo from Zimbabwe!  

The life-changing gift of clean water: Thandolwayo’s story 

Many Caritas Australia supporters will remember Thandolwayo from Project Compassion back in 2019. Life in her village in north-western Zimbabwe, wasn’t easy for Thandolwayo, who was 12 years old at the time. Every morning she would walk seven kilometres and risk being attacked by crocodiles as she collected clean water for her grandparents and family. Exhausted from hours fetching and carrying water, she would then start her day at school. 

Caritas Australia partnered with Caritas Hwange to help the community to install two solar-powered pumps to draw the water up from the river, as well as two 10,000 litre storage tanks. 

Community participation in the project was overwhelming. Women and men in Thandolwayo’s community helped by digging and carrying stones and supporting the construction of the water tanks.  

Clean water has been life-changing for Thandolwayo. Because she no longer had to walk for hours to collect water each day, she was able to complete school in her village. No longer exhausted, she soon excelled at her studies. More children in her village were attending school as there was less sickness thanks to clean water and sanitation.  

Today, Thandolwayo is a bright and confident 17-year-old attending high school, with dreams of one day becoming a nurse.  

When we recently met with Thandolwayo she said: “There are more children going to school now because we have water… I am so happy. Please don’t ever forget me and the people in Zimbabwe. Thank you for all your help! I will never forget you.” 

Sister Ivy Khoury, our Africa Program Coordinator, was able to reconnect with Thandolwayo after four years.  

“What a joy to see Thandolwayo again,” Sr Ivy recalled.  

“I couldn’t believe that she now speaks fluent English. She told me that it only took her two months to learn!”